On September 13, Port of Long Beach officials and Commissioners, Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia (see photo), South Coast Air Quality Management District Board Member Gideon Kracov, and representatives from 4 Gen Logistics celebrated the arrival of new zero-emission trucks that will be put into service at the Port of Long Beach. Thanks in part to $7 million in Clean Transportation Funding from the MSRC, 4 Gen will be adding 40 zero-emission Volvo semi-tractors to its fleet. At least 90 percent of the annual trips will include destinations in the Inland Empire, with primary service to 4 Gen’s headquarters in Rialto.
The Port of Long Beach is committed to a zero-emission future and its partnership with 4 Gen reflects this commitment, noted Noel Hacegaba, Deputy Executive Director at the Port of Long Beach. The Port has some of the most aggressive zero-emission targets in the nation – zero-emission cargo handling equipment by 2030 and zero-emission trucks by 2035.
Mayor Garcia noted that this event was particularly exciting because it represents the future. “It’s the future of not only our transportation, but our supply chain, what our ports are going to look like, and most importantly, it’s a better future for our community as they are going to see the incredible benefits of cleaner air, reduced emissions, and the electrification of our entire country.”
According to Long Beach Harbor Commission President Sharon Weissman, 60 public charging stations will be installed at the Port of Long Beach by the end of 2023.
Port Executive Director Mario Cordero acknowledged the importance of partnerships in achieving a project like this, including the MSRC’s support of 4 Gen’s EV truck purchases. Because of these types of collaborations, the Port of Long Beach is the first seaport to offer public charging facilities for the industry, he said.
David Duncan, owner of 4 Gen Logistics, also reflected the importance of partnerships and how their approach to zero-emissions would have been much different without these relationships. “We confidently placed orders for 61 zero-emission trucks because it was the right thing to do, and it was our customers that wanted it,” he said. He announced that 4 Gen would have a 100 percent zero-emission fleet starting in 2025, 10 years before it is required.
4 Gen is a family-run trucking company, with roots in the industry since 1943. The third and fourth generations of the Duncan family made a commitment to transition to zero-emission trucks. Next year, they plan to energize 30 charging stations on the 4-acre Port of Long Beach site, with an additional 14 at their Rialto location. The Port and 4-Gen entered into a 10-year agreement to build and operate truck charging infrastructure.
Additionally, 4 Gen is working with Electrify America to install massive battery energy storage systems at both facilities, which will allow them to store energy at off peak times and use it when the grid is taxed, so their trucking operations can continue without interruption and without impacting the grid during any future grid shortages. By the beginning of 2024, they plan to operate 90 charging stations at the two sites.